Apparatus for handling strip material from extruding machines



April 15, 1952 a. H. SCHANZ APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP MATERIAL FROMEXTRUDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1948 nz/iziaa550E575 H 155175272 viii APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP MATERIAL FROMEXTRUDING MACHINES Filed Sept. 20, 1948 A ril 15,1952 (5. H SCH A NZ 4Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 zzL/zziaa Garage H'EEhEmZ APPARATUS FORHANDLING STRIP MATERIAL FROM EXTRUDING MACHINES April 15, 1952 FiledSept. 20, 1948 G. H. SCHANZ APPARATUSFOR HANDLING STRIP MATERIAL FROMEXTRUDING MACHINES Filed Sept. 20, 1948 April 15, 1952 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4Yliik. F111, 1 p

TIMER z? enioa 55,02? 5 15 50225272 Patented Apr. 15,1952

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP MATE- RIAL FROM EXTRUDING MACHINES GeorgeH. Schanz, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, NewYork, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application September 20, 1948, Serial No.50,085

coated with soapstone powderor other separating material to preventsticking of the adjacent coils to each other. The trays loaded with thecoiled strip have then been stored to permit cooling of the strip.Thereafter the strip material has been withdrawn from the trays andpassed through braiding or other covering machines to apply a textilecovering thereto. Asthe hose must be made up in standard lengths, agreat amount of waste ordinarily results if the lengths of coiledmaterial on the trays are either shorter or considerably longer than thedesired lengths of hose, as in the case of the tube being too short itmust be discarded before covering or the resulting length of hose willbe under the desired length, and if too long the excessive length oftube must be cut away and discar'ded. As the extruded tube advancesrapidly from the extruding machine to the coiling table,' it has beendifiicult to measure and cut the tube to proper length. 4 Q The trays tosupport the coiled tube are in the form of round discs and have beensupported for coiling purposes on a power driven table. Hereto fore,when a tray has been loadedit has been removed by an operator to astorage truck andreplaced by an empty one. In the meantime, as theextruding machine must be'run constantly to prevent curing of thecomposition while in the ex truder, there has been a great waste ofextruded material during the transfer of trays and-the material runduring the transfer has been cut away and required remilling asillustrated by the Davis Patent No. 2,309,755. The present invention hasfor an object to overcome the foregoing and other difiiculties'. Otherobjects are to provide apl-urality of coiling tables for alternateoperation, to provide quick transfer of feed from one coiling table toanother, to provide improved measurement of the extruded materialtogether withautomatie cut ting of lengths and transfeifrom one coilingtable to another, and generally toreduce waste and provide efiiciency ofprocedure 4 Claims. (01. 242-80) These and other objects will appearfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings,

' "Figs. 1a and 1b show, in continuation of each other a side elevationof apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention.Fig. 2 is a plan view of that portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1a,parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of speed control taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the cutting and feedingmechanism, parts being broken away, and

' Fig. 5 is an electrical and piping diagram of the control mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l8 designates an extrudingmachine having a die II for forming a strip I2 of plastic rubber-likematerial. The strip material descends in a loop between the extrudingmachine and the feeding, coating and cutting apparatus which is allsupported on a frame 14. through this apparatus, the material is fed inturn over conveyor belts l5, l6 and I! which are driven at the samevelocity as that of the strip issuing from the extruder.

For accomplishing synchronous operation, the belts are driven from aconstant speed motor I8 which through a multiple belt drive l9 drives avariable speed apparatus of the multiple cone pulley or Reeves type. Thevariable speed apparatus drives conveyor belt [5 through a countershaft2| connected to the variable speed device by adriving chain 22 andsprockets 23, 24, and to the conveyor belt by a chain 25 and sprockets26, 21. Sprocket 21 is fixed to a shaft 28 on which a pulley 29 is alsofixed for driving belt 15. An idler pulley 30 on a rotatable shaft 3!supports the other end of the conveyor belt. Conveyor belt I6 is drivenby a pulley 32 fixed to a shaft 33 on which a sprocket 34 is fixed.Sprocket 34 is driven by a chain 35 from a sprocket 36 fixed to shaft 2l A sprocket 31, fixed to shaft 33 drives a sprocket 38 through a chain39. Sprocket 38 is fixed to a shaft which also has a pulley 4| fixedthereto which supports the conveyor belt H.

The variable speed device 20 shown in Fig. Bis controlled by pressurewithin a cylinder which has its piston rod 46 pivotally attached to itsspeed changing shifter 41. A coil spring 48 is biased to the pressureexerted by the piston of the cylinder. The arrangement is such thatpres- For feeding the strip sure in the cylinder 45 overbalances springpressure and decreases the speed of the conveyor belts. The cylinder 45is supplied with compressed air through a connecting tube 44 extendingfrom the cylinder 45 to a valve 49 on the extruding machine which isconnected to a supply of air. An operating arm 59 on the valve restsupon the loop of the tube or strip I2. When the conveyors are runningfaster than the delivery of the extruder, the valve arm 59 on the valverests upon the loop of the tube I2 and the valve arm 59 is raisedadmitting air to cylinder 45 and decreasing the speed of the conveyors.When the conveyors are running slower than the extruder, the arm isdropped, closing the valve and spring 48 increases the speed of the conveyors.

The tube passes over the conveyor belt I and through a tank 69containing a dispersion of soapstone powder or other dusting material inwater. A roller GI holds the tube below the surface of the liquid so asto coat the tube.

The conveyor I9 (shown in Fig. 4) is trained about the pulley 32 at itsdelivery end and about asimilar idler pulley 62 at its receiving end.The upper reach of the conveyor belt is looped downwardly about idlerrollers 53, 64, 65 and 85 to clear a cutting roll 81. Cutting roller 91is fixed to a shaft I3. Gear I9 is also fixed to shaft I3 which isdriven by a sprocket I32 fixed thereto which is driven by a chain I33from a sprocket I34 fixed to shaft 33. Above the cutting roll is a flycutter 68 fixed to a rotatable shaft 69 and rotating in the direction oftravel of the strip. A gear ll is rotatably mounted on shaft 69 and maybe driven therefrom by a single revolution clutch 75. The arrangement issuch that roll 61 and shaft 89 are driven by gears 79, II through clutchto sever the hose strip by contacting the fly cutter with the roller atthe surface speed of the travelling strip. The clutch I5 is operated bya solenoid I6 controlled by a timer I? (see Fig. lb). The timer isdriven from shaft 28 through a chain I8 and sprockets I9, 89 at the samespeed as the conveyor belt I5. The timer can be set manually to severthe strip at any desired lengths. For insuring travel of the strip atthe same velocity as the conveyor I5 a swinging arm 3i (see Fig. 4) ispivotally mounted on the frame and carries a weighted shoe 82 havinganti-friction rollers 83 for resting on the strip.

The severed strips pass from conveyor belt I6 and are coiled upon a pairof rotatable coilers 84, 85 which support and rotate round trays 86, 81arranged for alternate operation. Each of these coilers is of a wellknown type in which the disc-like tray is driven by a friction roller 89and its axis is moved by a yankee screw 89 during rotation of the discto lay the strip in adjacent coils. Such a coiling table is illustratedin the Davis Patent No. 2,309,755.

For feeding the cut strips in succession to alternate coilers withoutwaste of material, a

swinging trap 99 is mounted between conveyor belts I8 and IT. The trapis provided with antifriction rollers 9i over which the strip mayproceed from conveyor I8 to conveyor I1 and onto coiler 84. When thetrap is dropped to the dot and dash position of Fig. 4, however, theflexible strip is fed not over conveyor I! but through a funnel guideway93 to a conveyor belt 94 and over a conveyor belt 95 to coiler 85.

For operating the trap 90, a double acting fluid pressure operatedcylinder 96 is pivotally mounted on the frame and is connected byflexible hose 9?, 98 to a four-way solenoid operated valve I00. Thevalve is normally held by a spring I9I in a position to deliver fluidpressure through hose 91 to the upper end of cylinder 96 and thereby tohold the trap 90 in the raised or full-line position of Fig. 4 and thehose is delivered thereacrossto the conveyor I! and coiler 84. Uponcutting of the hose to length, the trap 90 is dropped by a solenoid I02energized by timer TI and remains lowered until the cutter is againoperated, when'it returns to its raised position under influence ofspring IIII reversing valve I and admitting fluid under pressure to thepiston rod :end "of cylinder 96.

.As the trap 98 drops, the next strip is delivered through funnel '93 tocoiler 85. The coilers 84, are preferably started and stoppedalternately at the time of movement of the trap 98. For this purpose,single acting cylinders H0, III are connected .respectively to lines 91,98 and are used for engaging clutches on the coilers 84, 85, theclutches 'being returned by coil springs H2, I I3. Suitablege'aring isprovided for driving the coilers 8 4, 85 from the-speed changer 29. Forthis purpose a sprocket II4 on shaft I35 of the speed changer drivescountershaft II5 through a sprocket Il6 thereon and a chain I I]. Asecond sprocket .1 I8 on shaft H5 drives a countersha'ft I l9'throughasprocket I29 thereon through chain I38. .A sprocket I on countershaftH9 drives coiler 84 through a chain I22, sprocket I23 and clutch I24.

A'shaft I25 has a bevel gear I21 thereon which is driven by .a similargear I28 on shaft H9. Sha'ft I26 drives coiler 85 through clutch I37.

A safety doo'r I39 is provided in guard about the fly cutter and .in theclosed position thereof closes a switch I3I in the circuit whichenergizes the timer 1.1. In the open position of the door I30, theclutch solenoid I6 will remain deenergized so that the fly cutter cannotbe operated.

In the operation of the apparatus strip material is extrudedcontinuously and fed across conveyor I5, through the soapstone bath tocutting conveyor IB. The timer I? is set to measure and cut the desiredlengths. The first length is delivered over the trap 90 to the conveyorif and onto the coiler '84. When the out is made,

coiler 84 stops, the trap 90 drops, the coiler 85 starts, the stripproceeds through funnel 93 to conveyor 94 and over conveyor to coiler85. While the coiler 84 is stopped, the operator removes the tray 88 andreplaces .it with an empty or tray. When tray 81 is filled and the flycutter again cuts the strip, the trap 99 is raised and the next strip isdelivered to coiler 84.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the inventionas it is defined by the following claims.

I claim.

1. Apparatus for feeding and cutting stretchable rubber strip material,said apparatus comprising a belt conveyor for supporting and advancingthe strip material in a lengthwise direction, a cutter located in thepath of the conveyor for cutting lengths of the material from saidstrip, a timer, means for driving the timer in synchronism with thespeed of said conveyor, said timer being adjustable to cutting ofdesired lengths of material, a plurality of coiling mechanisms forreceiving the cut strips of material, a trap between said conveyor andsaid coiling mechanisms for dropping strips without stretch anddirecting the strips alternately to said coiling mechanisms, means fordriving said coiling mechanisms from said conveyor as the strip materialis delivered thereto, and means responsive to said timer for stoppingand starting said coiling mechanisms and operating said trap insynchronism with movements of said cutter.

2. Apparatus for feeding and cutting stretchable rubber strip material,said apparatus comprising a belt conveyor for supporting and advancingthe stretchable strip material in a direction lengthwise thereof, acutter located in the path of the conveyor for cutting lengths of thematerial from said strip, a timer, means for driving said timer insynchronism with the speed of the conveyor, said timer being adjustableto cutting of desired lengths of material, a plurality of coilingmechanisms for receiving the cut strips of material, a conveyor beltspaced longitudinally from said belt conveyor and driven thereby fordelivering the cut strips to one coiling mechanism, a tiltable trapbetween said belt conveyor and said conveyor belt for dropping thestrips Without stretch for delivery to a second coiling mechanism, meansfor conveying the dropped strips to the second coiling mechanism, meansfor driving said coiling mechanisms from said belt conveyor as thestrips are delivered thereto, and means responsive to said timer forstarting and stopping said coiling mechanisms and operating said trap insynchronism with movements of said cutter to deliver the stripsalternately to said coiling mechanisms.

3. Apparatus for feeding and cutting stretchable rubber strip material,said apparatus comprising a plurality of coiling mechanisms rotatableabout fixed supports, a belt conveyor for supporting and feeding a stripof the stretchable rubber material toward said coiling mechanisms, acutter in the path of said material for cutting determinate lengths ofthe material from said strip, a moveable trap in the path of travel ofthe strips from said cutter to said coiling mechanisms for droppingstrips without stretching them and alternately directing the cut stripsto said coiling mechanisms, said trap being moveable in response tomovements of said cutter, and means also operable in response tomovements of said cutter for effecting alternate driving of said coilersas the strip material is delivered thereto.

4. Apparatus for feeding and cutting stretchable rubber strip material,said apparatus comprising a belt conveyor for supporting and advancingthe stretchable strip material, said conveyor having a downwardly loopedportion between successive reaches thereof, a flying cutter located atsaid loop for cutting material passing between said reaches, a timerdriven by said conveyor, said timer being adjustable to cutting ofdesired lengths from said strip, a plurality of coiling tables forreceiving the cut lengths of strip material, a moveable trap located atsaid conveyor beyond said cutter for delivering the strips by gravityand directing the strips alternately to said coiling tables, means fordriving said coiling tables in synchronism with said conveyor as thestrip material is delivered thereto, and means responsive to said timerfor efiecting operation of said flying cutter, said trap and saidcoiling tables.

GEORGE H. SCHANZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,095,123 Carkhufi Oct. 5, 19372,126,528 Beach Aug. 9, 1938 2,200,656 Schefe May 14, 1940 2,449,234Knoble Sept. 14, 1948

